A very dash-ing iPad mini

The work which [Mark] did to mount this iPad mini in the dashboard of his Ford truck is commendable. It looks like it came from the factory this way, and the functionality matches that illusion.

He actually started the project before he had the iPad mini on hand. A PDF that mapped out the exact dimensions was used as a template for the layout and alteration. He took the stereo controls out of the original faceplate. That opening was made to fit the screen by cutting, adding putty, then sanding and finishing.

Since the bezel won’t let [Mark] get at any of the buttons on the iPad itself he picked up an external home button on eBay and mounted it just to the left of the screen. Inside the dashboard a docking connector is responsible for powering the tablet and connecting it to the sound system. There’s even a WiFi connection thanks to the MiFi system he mounted in the overhead console.

Anyone ever looked into the possibility of wiring something up through the headphone jack since the EarPods have the ability to trigger Siri, trigger the camera shutter, etc.? Just curious for some other projects and ideas rolling around in my head – Google came up empty, for me at least.

I don’t want to be a party pooper here, but what’s it really for? A bit of restrictively angled web browsing on the move? A bit of overly difficult Angry Birds gaming?
How does he give it reboots or power downs if the power button isn’t available?
A reasonable idea, but it’s just a bit restrictive – I just pop my Nexus 7 in front under the stereo and do navigation occasionally – oh, and I can take it with me when it’s done nav duties.
Especially at this time of year, there’s a real danger of temperature related damage from expansion and contraction, moisture intake, screen clouding, etc. Imagine the regular temp changes outside from the middle of the night thru to warming it up for the morning drive, back cold again, warming up again for the evening drive, then overnight again.
I give it, maybe two years life.

True. But I didn’t want to go down the whole snobby Apple vs Google thing, perhaps save for the fact that it would be entirely possible to knock up an ODB2 interface+diagnostics system in Android!
I’m off to patent that idea…
:-)

More poop on the party… a touch screen sucks when you are driving because it requires you to take your eyes off the road to see where you touching on the screen. I had the wonderful misfortune of getting a rental Toyota Pirus that had this issue (utter crap car).

Say what you will about buttons, knobs and dials… you can feel them with your hands and keep your eyes on the road where they belong.

Very clean install. Super impressive. Love that you have added on to the functions of the truck without really taking much away. The thread looks like the iPad is removable but I’d personally probably just want to leave it in permenantly. I saw others that were relocating the original radio buttons below (although they aren’t required) which was pretty cool. Innovative. Sort of makes me wish that I hadn’t gotten the navigation in my own F150.